I am going to UK in the fall of next year and I want to be prepared. Can anyone with experience tell me what they liked most about UK and what they liked least about it? I want to know everything I will be experiencing at Kentucky so that I am ready for what is to come.
Thanks!
Classes can be too easy. Parties can be too much. The town of Lexington is gorgeous, charming and everything goo you imagine about KY.
The new res halls are incredible, the library is a beautiful facility, and I completely agree with @deborahb about Lexington. =D>
And the burgers and cross-cut sweet potato fries with marshmallow dipping sauce at Hugh Jass Burgers are a little slice of heaven. O:-)
Congratulations on your decision. This is such an exciting time for you. So you know, there is a whole week before classes begin called “K Week” that will help you to get to know people and the campus.
The best: new dorms, mix of people from all over the US, the friendliness of the school and community, the UK staff that is always there to help with questions or problems, move in is organized and quick, new grocery store being built right by campus, laundry texts you when machines are available or your clothes are done
The cons: parking is not the easiest for students or parents, some classes are very large, they are still working out some of the kinks with the new dorms (hot water at a premium in my daughter’s dorm)
Are you from Kentucky or out of state? One of the best things, in my opinion, is the Ride Home Express- convenient, inexpensive transportation (coach bus) that delivers students to a variety of cities for the Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks.
I am from out of state and I live near Chicago, Illinois! Would it still transfer me close to home?
This year, the “Chicago” route stops in Merrillville, IN if you are a South Suburban person, or Naperville, IL if you are anywhere else in Chicagoland. More than one coach bus ran to the area for Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. The drop offs and pick ups are at Cracker Barrel restaurants. To get all the way to Naperville was (I think) $155 round trip, which is cheaper than having someone drive to get you. The local alumni chapter in the Chicagoland area is very active, and hosts things for prospective students. Last year, I went with my daughter to a meet and greet at our local library in which a school representative or two were there, as well as a former student. I believe it was in July if I am not mistaken. They stayed and answered questions after their little presentation was complete. Low key event that was very informative.
I am a UK alum and former alumni board member, and native of Lexington. One thing to know is there is a LOT of construction going on now. A new expansion of the Student Center will bring a lot more amenities, services, and dining options there, including the nation’s first on-campus Panera Bread. A new science building is under construction, as is a major expansion of the Business building. The campus is large, but for the most part you should not have to travel far between classes - most of the gen ed classes are in the central campus area, and majors separate into buildings where most classes will be in the same building or group of buildings. UK students get great discounts at many local shops. A new Urban Outfitters store just opened downtown, across the street from Rupp Arena. There is a large Greek scene at UK, but if you are not into that you will still find many ways to make friends and find your niche.
Don’t miss the opportunity to go to Keeneland in the spring and fall. Take advantage of the excellent career center. Go to UK Symphony and Wind Ensemble and Opera concerts. Go to at least one basketball game (men AND women, and the women play on campus) even if you don’t like basketball. Rupp Arena is a huge venue for concerts, but the upper level seats are terrible.
NaperMom is correct that there is a VERY active Chicagoland alumni chapter. One of my good friends is here and is a former president of the national UK Alumni Association. They do a lot of events for new students and they welcome parents to their events.
Definitely take advantage of K Week if you can. It will help you learn about everything UK has to offer! Good luck, and welcome to Big Blue Nation!
Thank you so much that was very helpful !!
My son is considering Kentucky for 2016-17. How about the academics? I know that many of the large universities use graduate assistants and the professors tend to focus on their research rather than undergrad teaching.
Is that the case at Kentucky?
As this is only my daughter’s second semester, our experience may or may not be typical. Her English class was small (high school size class) and taught by a graduate assistant. Her STEM classes (Calculus II & III, Physics, Computer Science) have been big lecture halls. These classes were taught by professors. Those classes had smaller breakout sessions or labs at different times that were conducted by graduate students, if I am correct. She has also done some online classes this semester, which were nice with all of the bad weather they have had recently.
Her “large” classes are not nearly as large as some classes at Universities that we had toured. She has not found the large lecture halls to be bad. That was one of my big concerns. She has done fine.
I think a lot depends on which class one takes and the level of class. In my opinion, professors are instructing, not just doing research. With that said, graduate assistants are regularly being utilized to support this large group model for STEM classes with smaller breakout sessions. Although there is access to both assistants and professors when one needs assistance, my daughter has not utilized either to my knowledge.
Not sure if that answered your question or not.
Thanks NaperMom- That’s what I thought. I suppose all large universities are going to use grad assistants. I had them at Buffalo many years ago. Like you suggested, it was not an issue at least for me.
@Jessirose97 my son is in process of deciding on u.of.k. we live in Wisconsin. Just curios as to what made you opt on choosing Kentucky?
@deborahb I found your comment about classes interesting. .we’re you in honors classes or advanced and they were still not challenging? Was there a feeling of boredom on your part and if so was it only during freshman year while in basic but required courses? How did you deal with the problem and if you graduated from u.of k. Did you finish feeling let down academically or were you able to take graduate or advanced classes to help challenge you in later part of your schooling? Last ly, did you go into the college knowing your stats were above the general population at that school? Why did you choose u.of.k.?
@honestmom hi.thanks for your Feb posting about new features coming at u.of.k.do you know when the new science center is scheduled to be completed? Do you know anything about opportunities for freshmen to get involved in biology research? What is Keeneland? (You recommended to Jessirose97 that she ought to get involved in such when she attends college in fall of 2015) thanks!
The science building will be finished for this fall semester. Don’t know about freshmen getting involved with bio research - I’m a Business school alum. Keeneland is the thoroughbred horse racing track out by the airport. It meets for three weeks in the spring and fall. Great fun and they have student days where you can get in for $5.
Well out of my other options it was definitely the closest to my home town. When I visited I really liked the feel I got for it and I really liked the dorms they showed us. I like the size of the campus and that the Greek life is on the campus! I’ve heard many great things about kentucky from numerous friends who have attended there as well
@123monkey - I did not attend UK. I live in KY and I am a parent of a senior now. I have known probably a dozen or more kids who went to UK over the last 3-4 years. Most of them were in AP classes in high school. They report that the work is at much lower levels than what they had in high school and that students can miss many classes without impacting their grade and there isn’t much homework. This is compared to high school, and also when UK students compare notes with kids from the nearby private schools, these conclusions are drawn among friends. The OP asked for opinions and that is all these comments are. UK is a huge school, and what one student experiences might be completely different from another.
@deborahb thank you so much…
my son loves learning, earned a 36 on ACT when he was 12 years old and was subsequently recruited and offered 2 full ride scholarship s to private prep High schools. He accepted one and after a shaky 1st year of adjustments he has thrived. He is well rounded, mature and nice guy and ambitious. He is awaiting word from some schools yet but his full ride offer to Kentucky is hard to pass up in this age of economic uncertainty. He also has a brother who I’ll be going to college at same time. So money is very big consideration. Do you know whether any of the u. Of k . students you are familiar with went on to graduate studies after their undergraduate work? I’m wondering if anyone found those programs challenging. My son did college level genetic research in high school and is thinking of graduate school one day. Any more thoughts?
I don’t really know, specifically, about that. I think that UK grads who work hard and make the most of opportunities are extraordinarily successful in grad school and the world. We have a friend graduating this spring and she has done just that - great internships for research, study abroad and is looking at some really great grad schools. I have no doubt she will be very successful and very well-prepared.
@deborahb thanks much! My son is going andhe will do just that! I am thrilled for him.he will have opportunities there he wouldn’t get anywhere else and he won’t graduate with debt…